Carrying device



July 2 1952 T. B. BOONE CARRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15; 1950 IN V EN TOR.

E N o o m u 0 B. o w F T E .m

' ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARRYING DEVICE Thetiord Bolton Boone, Dallas, Tex. I Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,551

8 Claims. (Cl. 211--28) This invention relates to carrying devices and more particularly to carts for transporting mattresses or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device for transporting mattresses or like bulky objects for cleaning, airing, sunning, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device by means of which mattresses may be easily and quickly removed from and placed on beds.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device for transporting a pair of mattresses; and which is so constructed that it prevents the mattresses from coming into contact with one another during the loading, transportation or unloading of the mattresses, whereby a soiled mattress carried on the device will not contaminate a clean mattress also carried thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device for mattresses or the like which can be readily disassembled for storage in a small space or for transportation or shipping in a small package.

Briefly stated, the new and improved mattress carrying device or cart comprises a pair of wheeled sections which are detachably secured to one another to form a pair of spaced mattress racks, in each of which a mattress may be supported on edge in a vertical position. A roller is mounted above and between the two racks so that mattresses may be movably supported on the rollers during the loading and unloading of the mattresses into and from the racks. When the carrying device is to be stored or shipped, the two sections may be detached and one section is nested in the other to reduce the space occupied by the cart.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of one of the sections of the carrying device,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the carrying device,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the carrying device, and

Figure 4 is a small fragmentary isometric view of the lower portion of a slightly modified form of the carrying device.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates a carrying device, which is formed of two sections II and I2 of similar conformation. Each section has a rectangular base frame l3 having an outer end bar l4 and an inner end bar [5 and side bars [6 and H. The base frame is supported on a pair of conventional casters l8 and I9 which are secured to the side bars of the base frame by means of threaded supporting pins which pass through suitable apertures in the sides and engage in the cap nuts 20. A vertical divider or center frame 21, of substantially inverted U-shape, has an outer vertical leg 22 secured to and projecting vertically from the mid-point of the outer end bar 14 of the base frame and an inner leg 23 secured to and projecting vertically from the mid-point of the inner end bar l5, by welding or other conventional means, and the upper ends of the legs are connected by an integral horizontal portion or member 24. The horizontal portion of the center frame supports a roller 25 which is mounted on a shaft 26 extending through a central aperture in the roller and having its ends journalled in the upper ends of a pair of spaced vertical standards 28 secured at their lower ends to said horizontal member.

A retaining and supporting frame 29 has a horizontal end member 30 which is disposed outwardly of the outer vertical leg 22 of the center frame and is rigidly connected to said outer leg by a spacer member 3 I. A pair of horizontal side retaining members 32 and 33 are formed integral with the end member and extend inwardly above and parallel to the side bars of the base frame, and these horizontal side retaining members are connected at their inner ends with downwardly extending vertical retaining legs 34 and 35, respectively, whose ends are rigidly secured to substantially the mid-portion of the side bars l6 and I1, respectively, of the base frame. The horizontal side retaining members are at a lower level than the horizontal portion 24 of the center frame, and are of substantially the same height as the mattress supporting springs of the beds from and to which the mattresses are to be transported by the carrying device.

A plurality of spaced vertical central divider or spacer members 36 have their upper ends rigidly secured to one side of the horizontal portion 24 of the center frame and extend outwardly then vertically downward therefrom, and have horizontal bottom supporting portions 38 extending horizontally outwardly to the side bar I! of the base frame, to which they are rigidly secured. A plurality of similarspaced vertical central divider or spacer members 40 have their upper ends rigidly secured to the opposite side of the horizontal portion of the center frame and extend outwardly and then downwardly therefrom, similarly to the dividers 36, and have horizontal bottom supporting portions 42 whose ends are secured to the side bar l6 of the base frame.

The various members of the sections II and I2 are preferably made of sections of pipe which are bent to the desired shapes and are rigidly secured to each other by welding or other conventional means. The section I2 is constructed in exactly the same manner as section I I and, therefore, will not be described in detail. The last two digits of the reference numeral designating each component of section 12 are the same as the two digits of the referencenumeral employed to designate the corresponding component of section I I.

The two sections of the carrying device or cartare rigidly secured to-one another by a.=blt M which extends through registering apertures 4.5 in the inner vertical legs 23 and I23 of the central frames of the twosections, and .by bolts 45 which extend through registering apertures A! in the inner end bars I and I I5 (not shown) of thebase frames-of the two sections.

.11; will be seen that the horizontal .side retaining members .33 and 132 and vertical retaining legs .35 and I34, and the vertical central divider members 36 and I4!) of the two sections forma rack-48 in which a mattress may be-disposed on edge in a vertical position with the lower side resting on the ends of the base frames of the sections and on the horizontal bottom supporting portions 38 and I42 .(the latter not shown in the drawing)- In a similar manner, the :other horizontal side retaining members 32 and I33 (not shown) and vertical retaining legs .34 and I35, and the vertical central divider .ineinbers =49 and I36 (the latter not shown in the drawing) of the two sections form a second rack 49 in which another mattress maybe disposed on edge in vertical position with the lower side resting-on the ends of the base frames of the two sections and on the horizontal bottom supporting portions 42 and I38 (the latter not shown in thedrawing) of the dividers. The vertical retaining legs 35, L35 and I35, connecting the horizontal side retaining members to Lthelside bars of the base frames prevent outward displacement of the lower portions 'of the mattresses .carried in the racks 48 and 49 in the cart.

In use, if it is desired to remove a mattress from a bed to one of the racks, say the rack 48, the carrying device or cart It! is moved to a position in which it is parallel to one side .of the bed, with the rack 48 adjacent that side of the bed. Th horizontal side retainingmembers 33 and I 32 of the rack 48 will'thenbe adjacent the sprin of the bed and on substantially the same level as the underside of the mattress. The edge of the mattress adjacent the cart is then lifted and pulled toward the cart until the lower side of the mattress rests on the rollers 2.5 and I25. The mattress is thenpulled over the rollers until the opposite side edge of the mattress is directly over the rack 48, whereupon the mattress is tilted, with the rollers acting as the pivoting support, so that such opposite side edge of the mattress descends into the rack 48. The mattress is allowed to descend until its lower side edge rests on the ends of the base frames and on the bottom supporting portions of the two sections. It will be apparent that at no time is it necessary for the user to carry the whole weight of the mattress, for at all times the mattress is at least partially supported on the spring of the bed, on the rollers of the carrying device, or on both the spring and the rollers. The mattress could be also pulled completely over the roller and tilted to descend into the other rack 49, if this were desired.

If a clean mattress is in the rack 49, the vertical divider or spacer members of the two racks, being spaced from one another, will serve to pre- ,clude contamination of the clean mattress by .the .soiled mattress now disposed in rack 48,

since'these spaced divider members prevent contact between the mattresses in the two racks.

When it is desired to move a mattress from the carrying device to a bed, the carrying device is again moved parallel to and adjacent the bed, the mattress is lifted from the rack in which .it is disposed and tilted on the roller, and the mattress is then pulled over the roller onto the bed.

Since the racks are of open construction with only a few widely spaced members contacting the mattress, and since they support the mattresses in a vertical position, the sides of a mat tress in the carrying device or cart are exposed to air and the sun so that the device may be employed for airing and sunning mattresses. These same features of the device permit mattresses to be cleaned while in the racks of the device. The casters allow thedevice to be moved quickly and easily from room to room since the device is narrow enough to pass easily through doors.

The carrying device can be easily disassembled and nested to occupy a small space by removing the bolts 44 and d5, turning one section upside down, and placing it over and in the other section. When the two sections are nested, the cart or carrying device may be stored in a small space until again needed or may be packed in a rela- "tive small box or crate for shipment.

If desired, sheets of expanded or perforated metal 50 (Fig.4) may be supported on the bottom supporting portions 38 and 42, to form platforms upon which bedding, sheets, pillow cases, and the like, may be placed for transport through the wards of a hospital or the halls of a hotel.

It will be seen that the hereinbefore described carrying device or part provides a pair of racks in and which mattresses or like bulky objects may be easily transported. The carrying device is also provided with the rollers 25 and I25 on which the mattressesor other bulky objects may be supported and rolled during loading or unloading from the carrying device, in order that they'need not be lifted bodily during such loading or unloading operation. Furthermore, it will be seen that the carrying device isv provided withan open'frame, and yet the spaced vertical center divider mem-bers prevent contact between mattresses in the two racks of the carrying device. Particularly, it will be seen that the carrying device or cart is formed of two detachable sections II and I2 which may be nested when it is desired to store 'or ship the carrying device.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mattress carrying device comprising: a

movable elongated base; a frame on said base forming two narrow mattress receiving racks, said racks extending longitudinally of said base to maintain in vertical position mattresses disposed in said racks and on said base; and a roller mounted on said frame above and between said racks, said roller being rotatable about an axis extending parallel to and longitudinally of said base.

2. In a mattress carrying device: a movable elongated base; horizontal side retaining members rigidly secured to the base and disposed at opposite sides of the base, end retaining members rigidly secured to said horizontal side retaining members, said end retaining members and said horizontal side retaining members being above and spaced from said base; means between said horizontal side retaining members for dividing the space between said side retaining members to form two mattress receiving racks, said racks extending longitudinally of said base between the end retaining members; and a roller mounted above and between said horizontal side retaining members, said roller rotating about an axis extending parallel to and longitudinally of the base.

3. In a mattress carrying device: a movable elongated base; horizontal side retaining members rigidly secured to the base and disposed at opposite sides of the base; end retaining members rigidly secured to said outer side members, said end retaining members and said side retaining members being spaced from and above said base; and means between said side retaining members for dividing the space between said side retaining members to form two spaced mattress receiving racks, said racks extending longitudinally of said base between said end retaining members, whereby mattresses in said racks are prevented from coming in contact with one another.

4. A mattress carrying device comprising: a pair of similar sections; each of said sections including a mobile horizontal base, a vertical central divider frame rigidly secured to said base extending longitudinally of and above said base, an end retaining member secured to one end of said central frame and lying perpendicular to said central frame, side retaining members extending horizontally from opposite ends of said end member and parallel to and spaced outwardly from said central frame, spaced vertical divider members secured to said base and said central frame, and a roller mounted on said central frame above and between said side retaining members for rotary movement about an axis parallel to and extending longitudinally of said base; and means for detachably securing said two sections to each other, said end retaining members being F Number 6 disposed at opposite ends of said carrying device, said side retaining members and center divider members and said end members forming two narrow parallel racks for maintaining mattresses in vertical position on said bases.

5. A carrying device for removing mattresses from the springs of beds comprising: a movable elongated base; a frame on said base forming two narrow racks for maintaining mattresses in vertical position on said base, said racks having side retaining members at substantially the same level as the springs of said beds; and a central member between and above said outer side members for supporting a mattress during the loading and unloading of the mattress on the carrying device.

6. In a mattress carrying device: a movable elongated base; a central vertical partition on said base and extending longitudinally of said base; and side members disposed on opposite sides of and laterally spaced from said central partition for maintaining mattresses on said base against outward lateral displacement; said central partition extending above said side members to provide a mattress supporting means for use during loading and unloading of mattresses onto and 01f said carrying device.

7. In a mattress carrying device: a movable elongated base; a central vertical partition on said base and extending longitudinally of said base; and side members disposed on opposite sides of and laterally spaced from said central partition for maintaining mattresses on said base against outward lateral displacement; said central partition dividing the space between said side members to form two spaced mattress receiving racks, said central partition also extending above said side members to provide a mattress supporting means for use during loading and unloading of mattresses onto and off said carrying device; said central partition preventing contact between mattresses disposed on said base on opposite sides of said central position.

8. A mattress carrying device of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein, the mattress supporting means on the centralpartition includes a horizontally disposed roller.

THETFORD BOLTON BOONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jones Apr. 18, 1939 Daniels Oct. 3, 1939 Livingston Feb. 17, 1942 Burg Apr. 5, 1949 

